USA > South Carolina > The Jews of South Carolina, from the earliest times to the present day > Part 15
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MAJOR ABRAHAM A, MASSIAS was born in New York. He was appointed from New York 1st lieutenant of Rifles in 1808, captain in 1809, and paymaster with the rank of major in 1820.63
" For Obituary Notice see The Occident, Vol. 16, p. 507.
" For a detailed history of Dr. Marks and the Barhamville School see the Columbia State, March 15. 1903. This article, four columns in length, contains many interesting reminiscences, though there are several inaccuracies. For a notice of his volume: Preliminary Discourse to Lec- tures on Belles Lettres connected with Female Education, see The Courier, March 2, 1350. His volume of poems is noticed in The Courier of March 14, 1850. For a critical notice of his poetry see The News and Courier, August 23, 1903.
83 " Major Abraham A. Massias, Obt. Charleston, So. Ca., the 28th June, 1848, aged 76 years. Receiving his brevet for twenty years' services in the field, he was subsequently appointed paymaster to the army U. S., discharging the responsible duties of his office with distinguished integrity and uprightness. To the Synagogue of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, or House of God, he was, by his last will, a generous benefactor, and after a provision for several relatives, the bulk of his estate was bequeathed to friends in Charleston, So. Ca., the home of his choice."-Inscription on tombstone, Da Costa Cemetery, Charleston, S. C.
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ABRAHAM MoisE was a prominent lawyer and politician. He was admitted to the Bar in 1822; was a Justice of the Peace from 1827 to 1840, and a Magistrate of the City of Charleston, 1842 to 1859. He was a conspicuous member of the Union and States' Rights Party.
ABRAHAM MOÏSE, Jr., was a clerk and assistant cashier in the Bank of Charleston, 1839 to 1852. He was a patriotic citizen and an eloquent speaker. He was secretary of the Democratic meeting in 1843.
EDWIN WARREN MOÏSE (1811-1868) was educated as a physician in Charleston and removed early to Woodville, Miss., where he practised his profession. Later in life he studied law, and, removing to New Orleans, became quite eminent. He was a member of the Legislature for many years and for several years was Speaker of the House. In 1861 he was made a Judge of the Confederate States Court in Louisiana and afterwards became Attorney-General of the State.
GENERAL E. W. Moïse. See Jews of Sumter.
JACOB MOÏSE. one of the first Jewish settlers in Augusta, Ga., was a director of the Georgia Insurance Company in 1836.
THEODORE S. Moïse was a self-taught artist and portrait painter who attained considerable prominence. Many fine examples of his art are still to be seen in South Carolina and in New Orleans, to which city he removed in 1843 and where he obtained good recognition.0±
M. C. MORDECAI was one of the most prominent merchants in Charleston. He was vice-president of the Charleston Antient Artillery Society, 1830-1847; a member of the Board of Health, 1833-1836; captain of the Marion Artil-
"4 See The Courier July 1, 1835, August 24, 1835, Nov. 20, 1835, Sept. 30, 1836, and May 8, 1843. (Copied from the New Orleans Picayune.) For further data concerning the Moïse family see The Jewish Encyclo- pædia, art. "Moïse." All statements must be received with caution.
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lery in 1834; Alderman of Charleston in 1836; a member of the Committee on Civic Improvements in 1837; Warden of Police in 1837; a Commissioner of Markets in 1837; a delegate to the Augusta Convention in 1838: a director of the Southwestern Railroad Bank, 1840-1852; a Commis- sioner of Pilotage, 1842-1850; a director of the Gas Light Company, 1848-1856; a director of the South Carolina In- surance Company, 1849-1857; a director of the Farmers' and Exchange Bank, 1854-1859; Representative in the Leg- islature for St. Philip's and St. Michael's, 1845-1846, and State Senator, 1855-1858. He was one of the founders of The Southern Standard in 1851-an organ opposed to the agitation of the question of secession in South Carolina. He removed to Baltimore after the war.63
FRANKLIN J. MOSES was born in Charleston on August 13, 1804. He was a son of Major Myer Moses. At an early age he was sent to South Carolina College, where he graduated when only seventeen years old. After leaving college he commenced the study of law and was admitted to the Bar in 1825. Having fixed upon no place to practise, he took a trip through the State and was fortunate in meeting Judge Richardson in Clarendon. There were no hotels in those days, but the door of every house was open. Following the custom of the time and country, Judge Richardson invited Mr. Moses to spend the night at his house. The invitation was accepted, and Judge Richardson was so struck by the manners and force of character of the young visitor that he persuaded him to stay several days and finally advised him to settle at Sumter, which he did. He formed a law part- nership with John L. Wilson, which was dissolved in 1827,66 and afterwards with his brother, Montgomery Moses.67
65 King: The Newspaper Press of Charleston, S. C., p. 160.
66 The Courier, Dec. 15, 1827.
" Ibid., Dec. 16, 1831.
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Judge Richardson introduced him into society and gave him a helping hand. He soon made his mark and acquired a lucrative practice, extending to the neighboring districts of Kershaw, Darlington, and Williamsburg. Soon after attaining a prominent position at the Sumter Bar he was elected to the Legislature and in 1842 was elected State Senator from Claremont and served till 1862. During the greater part of his service as Senator he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee. This was a great honor and a signal proof of capacity, for among his colleagues were gen- tlemen of distinguished ability.
As a public man, Senator Moses was remarkable for his carefulness, watchfulness, thorough preparation and atten- tion, and for his fidelity to the interests of his constituents. No man of his day was better acquainted with the working of public affairs and the course of the State's political his- tory. In December, 1865, he was elected a Law Judge, under the old Constitution, by the State Legislature assem- bled under the proclamation of President Johnson. As a Circuit Judge he displayed the rarely combined qualities of fairness and quickness, and gave constant evidence of his thorough knowledge of the precedents and practice in common law. Under the Reconstruction Acts a new Con- stitution was framed and adopted, the whole judicial system of the State being rooted up. The new Supreme Court of the State was to consist of a Chief Justice and two Asso- ciate Justices. On July 28, 1868, Judge Moses was elected Chief Justice for six years and upon the expiration of his first term was reelected without opposition. From 1851 to the time of his death he was a trustee of the South Carolina College and was Professor of Law in that institution, suc- ceeding the late C. D. Melton.
By accepting the office of Chief Justice at the hands of the first Legislature which met under the new Constitution, Judge Moses separated himself from his life-long com-
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panions and associates. It was a heavy blow to his friends, though many of them believed that his motives were pure and that his object was to serve the best interests of his people. The last act of his public life, however, reconciled him somewhat to them. In the contested election of Wade Hampton as Governor of the State. Judge Moses intimated that when the Supreme Court should reassemble, he would deliver an opinion in favor of Wade Hampton. He died, however, before he could carry out his determination. on March 6, 1877. He married Miss McClenahan, of Chester- field District. His son, Franklin J. Moses, Jr., the notori- ous Governor of South Carolina from 1872 to 1874, was not brought up as a Jew, nor were his affiliations Jewish in any way.88
MYER MOSES, a son of the elder Myer Moses, who died in 1787, has already been noticed. He removed to New York about 1825 and died in that city on March 20, 1833.69 He was the father of Chief-Justice Moses. He was the author of two books: Oration Delivered at Tammany Hall on the 12th May, 1831, and Full Annals of the Revolution in France.
RAPHAEL J. MosEs, lawyer and statesman, was born in Charleston on January 20, 1812. He was the son of Israel Moses, who was himself a native of Charleston. He started life as a merchant, but after a few years abandoned trade and studied law. He removed to Apalachicola, Fla., about 1837, and soon attained distinction in his profession. Re- moving to Columbus, Ga., in the forties, he at once assumed front rank among the lawyers of that city. He was a prominent figure, likewise, in politics. As an orator he was excelled by few, sharing honors easily with Robert Toombs,
"8 The above sketch is practically copied from an editorial in The News and Courier of March 7, 1877.
" The Courier, March 30 and April 1, 1833.
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Alexander H. Stephens, and Benjamin H. Hill. A descend- ant of the families of Nunez and Luria, he changed the names of two of his sons in 1856 to Israel M. Nunez and Albert M. Luria -- the third son, Raphael J. Moses, Jr., now a distinguished lawyer of New York. retaining his own name. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted with his three sons. He himself served on the staff of General Longstreet as Chief Commissary of Subsistence, ranking as major. His efficiency is frequently referred to in the highest terms. 79 His eldest son, Israel M. Nunez, served throughout the war. The second son, Albert M. Luria, was a lieutenant in the 23d Regiment (N. C.). In 1861, while Sewell's Point was being shelled, it was necessary, in order that the guns might be trained on the Monocacy, to dig away the sand in front of the breastworks. Volunteers were called for, and young Luria and another young man jumped out and dug the sand away, returning unhurt. Their gal- lantry is mentioned in the official reports of both the captain and colonel."1 In recognition of young Luria's bravery, the company sent an eight-inch iron shell to his mother, together with a brass plate on which is inscribed :
" Sergt. A. M. Luria, C. L. G. Sewell's Point, Norfolk, Va., May 19th, 1861.
"' The pride of all his comrades, The bravest of the brave .? "
He was killed at the battle of Seven Pines, on May 31, 1862. Resting on a pillar of marble that stands on his grave is the shell, with the brass plate adorning its shaft.
References to his services can be found in many of the volumes of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, published by the United States Government. As these volumes are fully indexed, detailed references are unnecessary.
" A highly-colored version of this incident is given in Wolf: The American Jew, etc., p. 303.
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The third son, Raphael J. Moses, Jr., was at Annapolis when the war broke out. He resigned and was appointed in the Georgia navy and .afterwards in the Confederate navy, serving on the Virginia (Merrimac) and other ships.
After the war Major Moses resumed the practice of law. He was elected to the Legislature in 1866, where his oratory and statesmanship won him lasting fame. His open letter to the Hon. W. O. Tuggle, of LaGrange, who in his Congres- sional campaign had taunted him with being a Jew, has become a classic.72 He died in Brussels on October 13, 1893, widely esteemed for his culture, character, and ser- vices. Among the great men whom the Jews of South Carolina have furnished to this country-great by reason of service-Raphael J. Moses will always occupy an hon- ored place.
The following pen-picture of him, from The Occident of April, 1866, is worthy of reproduction:
" Hon. R. J. Moses, member for Muscogee, the generally acknowledged leader of the House, is a short, heavy-built Israelite -- proud of his tribe- with raven hair, which the snows of fifty winters have had no power to bleach, and dark eyes, languid in repose, but which when aroused kindle with promethean fire. His face is truly leonine in type, and in so far not unfitly mirrors his heart, which is the residence of will, and courage, and generosity, and all the manly virtues. Being chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. he is often called to address the House, and never fails to command attention. He is the best speaker I have heard in either branch of the Assembly. Some of the qualities which make him more of the orator than the debater-a Pitt rather than a Fox-are an emotional nature, full of eloquent feeling, a copious and nervous diction, an ear for the music of words, an impassioned declama- tion, appealing more strongly to the heart than to the head, and a power of amplification wherein few men excel him. The cogeney of his logic is in some measure eclipsed by the splendor of his rhetoric, and he seems
12 This letter was originally published in the Columbus Daily Times of August 30, 187S, and was reprinted in The American Israelite of Sept. 6, 1878, since which time it has been reprinted hundreds of times.
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to love the flower as much as the fruit. Said Mr. Jefferson: 'Patrick Henry on his feet persuaded us all, but when he had taken his seat, I could recall none of his arguments.' I take Mr. Moses to be an accom- plished belles-lettres scholar, and I was surprised to learn that he devotes his professional life mainly to the practice of commercial law. Such a master of the passions, it would seem, ought to give his attention almost exclusively to criminal advocacy. There he would be in his element and in his glory. * * # As I have said, he is proud of his race. He perfectly understands the insensate prejudice existing against it, and which, to his honor be it said, he manfully confronts, by so conforming bis conduct as to challenge criticism upon his public or private life. His love for that people is intense and very beautiful-allowing nothing to divide his affection with. but his country-Georgia and those that love Georgia; for a truer, more patriotic heart than his never quickened its pulsations at the mention of liberty. *
* In social life his genial qualities shine in most attractive perfection. After making the best speech of the day at the Capitol, in the abandon of social hilarity at night, in his room, he can tell the best story of the session. * * * In short, he is the man of all circles, and emphatically the pride of his own."
ABRAHAM OTTOLENGUI, a prominent merchant. He was a director of the Union Bank from 1843 to 1850 and a Com- missioner of the Poor-House in 1833-4. He was a bene- factor of Beth Elohim. The interest of the "Ottolengui Fund" is still distributed annually to the poor.73
PHILIP PHILLIPS, perhaps the greatest native-born Amer- ican Jew, was born in Charleston in 1807. He was admitted to the Bar in 1829; was a member of the "Nullification" Convention in 1832, and represented Chesterfield in the Legislature in 1834-5. In 1835 he removed to Mobile, where he soon rose to high distinction. In 1844 he was elected to the Legislature and was chairman of the Com- mittee on Federal Relations. In 1845 he published a digest of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Alabama. In 1846 he was commissioned a Judge of the Criminal Court that had been established in the city of Mobile, but declined
" For Obituary Notice see The Occident, Vol. 8, pp. 573-580.
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the honor. In 1849 he was elected chairman of the State convention called for the purpose of promoting internal improvements. In 1850 he was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court. In 1853 he was elected to Congress and declined reelection. He now removed to Washington, but when the war broke out returned South, living for a while in New Orleans. In 1867 he returned to Washington, and in spite of the prejudice against the Southerner, be- came one of the leaders of the Bar. His practice was almost entirely before the Supreme Court. where he ap- peared in over four hundred cases. So recognized was his ability, that he was frequently called upon to argue cases in which he was not personally interested, merely as amicus curice. The tribute paid to his memory by the Bar of the Supreme Court on February 16, 1884, was indeed a remark- able tribute. His career was referred to as "a model for citizens, for statesmen, for lawyers, and for judges." "He was a jurist and statesman, whose labors and discussions were a large contribution to jurisprudence and at the same time of invaluable assistance to that tribunal in whose judgments they are imperishably preserved." "He was the personification of the ideal of a great lawyer" __ "'by common consent among the greatest." It is interesting to note that he wrote a sketch of his life for his children. It is to be regretted that this has not been published.7
DR. THEODORE RODRIGUES was for several years Officer of Health and Physician to the Queen's Troops stationed at Fajardo, Porto Rico.75
DR. B. A. RODRIGUEZ was a well-known dentist and in-
" For further data see Garrett: Reminiscences of Public Men in Ala- bama for Thirty Years, pp. 405-7. (Atlanta, 1372.) See also Proceed- ings of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States on the Death of Philip Phillips and the Action of the Court Thereon. (Washington, D. C., 1SS4.)
15 The Courier, July 3, 1843.
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THE JEWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA
ventor. He was one of the first, if not the first, in America to make an artificial palate; 76 was a contributor to The American Journal of Dental Science," and a member of the Board of Health in 1849.
SOLOMON SAMPSON SOLOMONS was engineer and superin- tendent of the Northeastern Railroad Company in 1858-9. He supervised the building of this road and was for many years its president.
ABRAHAM TOBIAS, a prominent merchant. He was a mem- ber of the Board of Health from 1833 to 1837; a Commis- sioner of Pilotage from 1838 to 1543; a director of the Union Bank from 1836 to 1856. He was a member of the States' Rights Party in 1840 and was one of the citizens appointed as honorary guard over the remains of Mr. Calhoun on the occasion of that distinguished statesman's funeral in April, 1850.78
Other names that may be noted are Isaac N. Cardozo, for twenty-four years a weigher in the Custom House (1831-1855) : " Gershon Lazarus, steamboat inspector in the Custom House (1847-1858) ; Hyam Cohen, City Asses- sor of Charleston from 1838 to 1850; Thomas Sampson, Assistant Assessor in 1852; Solomon Moses, City Marshal from 1833 to 1846; H. H. De Leon, Assistant Treasurer of the City of Charleston from 1850 to 1852, and Levy J. Myers, clerk to the Treasurer from 1854 to 1857.
E. Abrahams was a member of the Board of Health from 1840 to 1842; Jacob Cohen was a member of the same body in 1852; S. N. Hart was a Commissioner of the Marine
16 The Courier, July 18, 1836.
17 Ibid., Oct. 22, 1840.
TS Year Book for 1883, p. 526. Other Jews who served on this occasion during the various "watches" were Joshua Lazarus, P. M. Cohen, and Jacob Cohen.
" For Obituary Notice see The Evening News, August 21, 1855.
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Hospital in 1850-1 and a Commissioner of the Work-House in 1552; E. Levy was a member of the Board of Health in 1838-9 and a Commissioner of Streets and Lamps from 1843 to 1848; Aaron Lopez was a member of the Board of Health in 1838-9; M. H. Nathans was a Commissioner of Markets in 1854, and E. Solomons a Commissioner of Roads in 1858-9.
Aaron Moïse was a clerk in the Bank of South Carolina from 1839 to 1851; Abraham Moïse, Jr., was assistant cashier at the Bank of Charleston from 1839 to 1852; L. J. Moses was a clerk in the Southwestern Railroad Bank from 1840 to 1848.
F. Goldsmith was a director of the Bank of Hamburg in 1837; Lewis Levy, a director of the Exchange Bank of Columbia from 1855 to 1859; J. C. Lyons, a director of the Indemnity Insurance Company of Columbia in 1854-5, and of the Exchange Bank of Columbia from 1854 to 1859; Isaac D. Mordecai, a director of the Bank of the State of South Carolina, at Columbia, from 1842 to 1852,
Lizar Joseph was Warden of Georgetown in 1826, and Coroner in the same year; Abraham Myers was Intendant of Georgetown in 1826-7; N. Emanuel was Warden of that city from 1851 to 1854; R. D. Levin was Warden of Colum- bia in 1852; Montgomery Moses was Intendant of Sumter- ville in 1852; S. S. Sampson was Intendant of Walterboro in 1851; A. H. Davega was Warden of Camden in 1854 and of Chester in 1858; Samuel Sampson was Warden of Georgetown in 1858-9.
The following are the Jewish lawyers of the period with the dates of their admission to the Bar in Charleston or Columbia : Chapman Levy (1806), Abraham Moïse (1822), Solomon Cohen (1823), Levi S. D. Lyon (1825), F. J. Moses (1825), M. M. Cohen (1829), Philip Phillips (1829), Montgomery Moses (1831), Edwin De Leon (1840), S. Ben- jamin (1841), Isaac Da Vega (1846), M. B. Moses (1855),
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M. M. Cohen (1855), J. Barrett Cohen (1857), Joseph W. Moses (1858), J. N. Nathans (1858).80
Among the physicians were: Dr. P. Melvin Cohen, Dr. Lawrence L. Cohen,81 Dr. J. Bensadon,51 Dr. Abraham De Leon, Dr. M. H. De Leon, and Dr. Columbus Davega.
Among the minor writers mention may be made of Cor- delia Moïse, Caroline Harby, Rebecca Levy, Sarah Ann Dinkins, and Columbus Moïse. These are principally known through their short poems and hymns.
As has already been incidentally noted, the Jews took an active part in the turbulent politics of the period. Nathan Hart, Colonel Chapman Levy, F. J. Moses, Abra- ham Moïse, Jacob De La Motta, and M. C. Myers, of Georgetown, were prominent members of the Union and States' Rights Party. Other names frequently met with are J. N. Cardozo, M. C. Mordecai, Major Lazarus, Michael Lazarus, H. J. Harby, and Abraham Tobias. In The Courier of October 1, 1832, there is a splendid letter, signed by eighty-four Israelites, affirming that the Jews do not want to be represented as a sect in the State Legislature. It is a fine statement of the proper attitude of the Jew in politics. In the "Nullification" Convention of 1832 were Philip Cohen, Myer Jacobs (St. Helena's), Chapman Levy, and Philip Phillips (Chesterfield)-Cohen and Jacobs voting for, and Levy and Phillips against the Or- dinance of Nullification.
During the Florida War, as in every other war, the Jews of South Carolina furnished their full quota to the troops of the State. S. Hyams was a member of the Hamburg Volunteers. 82 Solomon Heydenfeldt also served in this war.83 In the Washington Volunteers from Charleston
Compiled from O'Neall's Bench and Bar, Vol. 2.
81 Graduated in 1838.
The Courier, Jan. 26, 1836.
Ibid.
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were J. Cohen, Jr., Myer M. Cohen, and Columbus Moïse.8+ In Columbia, a volunteer company of sixty men was or- ganized under the command of Captain Isaac Cohen. 95 J. C. Peixotto was one of the draft from the 16th Regi- ment.se So was T. W. Mordecai.87 Dr. P. Melvin Cohen was surgeon to the detachment of troops in Charleston Harbor. 88 Hyam Cohen was assistant paymaster.8º After the expiration of his term of service Myer M. Colien re- ceived an appointment as an officer of the left wing and served out the campaign in Florida. He published an account of that country and the military operations therein,90
In the Mexican War Dr. David C. De Leon served as assistant surgeon. In the Palmetto Regiment were Jacob Valentine, the youngest soldier of the regiment, who was. severely wounded at Churubusco; º1 Orlando Levy, J. Friedeberg, D. Polock, and J. L. Polock,92.
So much, then, for the Jews of South Carolina, socially and politically. In the matter of religious development, too, there was much of the greatest interest that took place during this period. This we shall discuss in the next chapter.
The Courier, Jan. 26, 1836. Ibid., Feb. 19, 1836.
$% Ibid., Jan. 29, 1836. Ibid., May 10, 1836.
Ibid., Feb. 2, 1836.
S9
P Ibid., June 2, 1836.
"T Ibid., Feb. 6, 1836.
Ibid .. Dec. 13, 1847.
"2 The writer of the article " Moïse" in The Jewish Encyclopedia makes Camillus Moïse die while serving in the Mexican War. He died in 1844! (See The Old Jewish Cemeteries at Charleston, S. C., p. 60.)
CHAPTER XI-RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT 1824-1860
E have discussed the Jews of South Carolina from 1824 to 1860 at length and we have seen what a remarkable number of men of more than average prominence the community included. We have seen, likewise, how many of its able men left South Carolina dur- ing this period and made their mark elsewhere.
Not less interesting is the story of the religious devel- opment of the community, for it was during this period that a second movement took place in the direction of re- form-a movement that was not without effect in the evo- lution of American Judaism. We will go back a little, therefore, and take up the story of the Reformed Society of Israelites where we left it.
After the dissolution of the Society most of its members who remained in Charleston reaffiliated with Beth Elohim. They were fined various amounts at the discretion of the trustees, and were then restored to all their former rights and privileges. For a few years the history of the Syna- gogue was uneventful. But there was now a progressive party in Beth Elohim and the next chapter in the story is a sad tale of dissension and bitterness.
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